September 4, 1909.]
SANITARY BOARD.
A meeting of the Sanitary Board was held ou Aug, 31 at the Board Room. Mr. E. D. C. Wolfe presided, and there were present: Hon. Mr. A. W. Brewin (Registrar General), Hon. Mr. E. A. Hewett, Colonel Bedford, Mr. A Shelton Hooper, Dr. G. L. Fitzwilliams, Mr. Lau Chu Pak, Mr. Ho Kom Tong, Dr. F. Clark (Medical Officer of Health), Dr. Pearse (Assistant Medical Officer of Health), and Mr. W. Bowen Rowlands (Secretary).
WATER FLUSHING AGAIN,
An application was received for permission to erect eight water-closets at the Italian Convent, Mr. Ho KOM TONG minuted-I approve of water-closets for the Convent if they have an independent water supply for flushing purposes. I do not think we should allow them to draw water from the public mains especially when thousands of Chinese have had only two hours' water supply a day for the past few months.
Dr. FITZWILLIAMS-I am strongly in favour of water-closets replacing the present system, especially in an institution where children are being taught. How long is the present shortage of water likely to last? I think that eight water closets are the minimum allowance for ninety people.
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COLONEL BEDFORD-I trust that this ap plication for water flushed closets may receive favourable consideration. There may be difficulties in the way, but these are not in surmountable. The amount of water required per head per diem for this service would certainly not exceed six gallons. What is that compared with the amount used in baths and watering flowers? The consumption for this institution for the whole year for this service would be about 219,000 gallons. The yield of rain water on the roof of this institution in the year would be at least 232,000 gallons. If the water authorities definitely say that they are unable to produces sufficient water for this most desirable and, to my mind, essential purpose, could not the Convent be informed that water-closets are authorised if a water supply other than from the mains be found? In my opinion the water-closets and their supply from the mains should be strongly recommended by the Sanitary Board. If the
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
permanent officers and immediately in other cases with the following exceptions:
(Item 2). We do not agree that $4,114-$4.800 will be saved, as Mr. Carter's pension has to be deducted from this amount,
(Items 3 and 4) We are divided in opinion on the subject of the total number of inspectors required, but are agreed that a reduction of inspectors from 28 to 21 is impossible. Dr. Fitzwilliams and the President are of opinion that 25 inspectors are required, as enumerated by the M. O. H 22 for ordinary duties and 3 for plague, small-pox and other epidemic diseases, also for prevention of malaria and replacements. Mr. Shelton Hooper considers 23 inspectors sufficient. These figures do not include the storekeeper, whose post should, in our opinion, be retained.
(Item 5). We consider the services of the 5th grade clerk cannot be dispensed with owing to the increase of work entailed as a result of the transfer of the markets and the Registra- tion of Births and Deaths to the Sanitary Department under legislation enacted since the Retrenchment Committee made their report.
The following are the proposals of the Com- mittee on the various items, some of which have since been adopted:
One Principal Clerk not required. Post abol- ished. One Sanitary Surveyor not required. Post abolished. Officer placed on pension. anitary Inspectors (see body of report). One 5th grade clerk required. One telephone clerk not required. Post abolished. Two messen- gers. Two not required. One post abolished. Six Foreman Interpreters (coloured). Not required. With the abolition of plague inspectors as such, these foremen can be dispensed with. Two already dismissed. Crew of plague barge. Not Required. Dis. charged. One watchman, Cheung-sha-wan. Not required. Discharged. Ton artisans. Not required. Discharged. One overseer, New Wes- tern Market, combined with Central Market. Not replaced. Conveyance allowance. These savings depend on the reduction in staff. Disinfectants. Reduction proposed, as vote was considered too large and was not expended in 1907 and 1908. Light Central Market. Reduction already effected by new agreement with Electric Company. Rent of District Offices. We agree that the two District Offices Central Direct Office already abolished Uniform for staff. These savings depend on the reduction of staff.
(Sd.), E. D. C. WOLFE
a recomes are unable to carry out such should be retained.
they may be persuaded to increase their available supply. Mr. SHELTON HOOPER-I a
approve of water. closets for such an establishment as this as being. much more sanitary than commodes, but I think. less than eight would meet the case.
Hon. Mr. HEWETT-As I have repeatedly stated, I do not consider that fixed water-closets should be allowed in the upper levels of the town. The application should be refused., I cannot see anything in the enclosed papers to show that the Italian Comvent intends draw-
ing its water supply from public mains, but if so this in itself is a sufficient argument for refusing the application.
Mr. LAU CHU PAK-The commode system cannot be replaced without an ample supply of water. Let the outcry for water amongst the Chinese taxpayers be attended to first. Water from the mains is too precious to be wasted just now.
The REGISTRAR-GENERAL-With trouble, and if the architects allow sufficient space, there is nothing offensive in the commode system. In the spring of 1901 it was found impossibly to continue a constant supply of water, and this restriction of the water supply has occurred at intervals ever since,
The DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS In the present incomplete state of the water-works of the city a supply from the public mains is in- advisable.
It was decided to refuse the application unless the Convent could provide an independ. dent water supply.
RETRENCHMENT COMMITTEE'S REPORT. The following report of a select committee, appointed to consider the Retrenchment Committee's report, was submitted.
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G. H. L. FITZWILLIAMS A. SHELTON HOOPER. The PRESIDENT stated that members would see by the schedule attached that the select committee was in most cases in agreement with the proposals made by the Retrenchment Committe. The only important items were the question of Mr. Carter's pension, and the number of inspectors required. Dr. Fitzwilliams and the speaker agreed with the Medical Officer of Health that to reduce the sanitary staff to twenty-two inspectors would be cutting it down too fine, and they had enumerated twenty-five. At present there were twenty-eight inspectors, 25 on actual work in the Colony and three on leave, and they were of opin- ion that with a reduction of two the work could be carried on satisfactorily. A further reduction would not only mean extra duties, but treble the duties they had now in case of anybody going on leave. A further question to be dealt with was the question of whether a storekeeper was required. The select committee considered that one was necessary, also that the services of a first grade clerk could not be dispensed with.
Mr. LAU CHU PAK-As regards the post of storekeeper, personally I should say that instead of having an inspector to look after the stores a Chinese clerk well secured and paid $60 or $75 a month would be good enough to do the work. I don't think it requires the services of a European.
Mr. HOOPER What salary does the present man get.?
The PRESIDENT £250 a year. It is four per cent. of the total amount we spend on
Hon. Mr. HEWETT-Does the man get ances besides his salary?
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The PRESIDENT-No. Each inspector who gets stores has a stock book that is sent to me to check. The storekeeper goes through them in the first instance and points out irregularities. He also makes a rough draft of all estimates for stores, which he submits to the Head of the Sanitary Department to check.
Hon. Mr. HEWETT Then I understand there is no one between the storekeeper and the Head of the Department P
The PRESIDENT-No, and I may point out that we have been able to save considerably by having somebody directly responsible for the stores. I consider a Chinese clerk, however well qualified, would not be as useful as the type of man we have at present.
COLONEL BEDFORD-Is he responsible for the loss of stores in his custody?
The PRESIDENT-Certainly, and so is each inspector once the storekeeper has issued them.
COLONEL BEDFORD-Is stock of the stores ever taken ?--
The PRESIDENT-Twice a year, and occas- ionally surprise visits are made by the auditor.
Hon. Mr. HEWETT thought all members would be glad to reduce the estimates as much as possible, but in view of the enor mous amount of duties which the storekeeper had to carry out and the importance of them he thought it was advisable to have a European.
Mr. HOOPER said that as the storekeeper, had to make himself acquainted with the market price of small stores, apart from those open to tender, he certainly thought they should have a man of a little higher class and more responsible than a subordinate Chinese.
The Board decided to recommend that the European storekeeper be retained.
The subject of a sanitary surveyor being dispensed with was next discussed.
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Mr. Hoor R said they might now discuss the letter from Government informing the Board that they had abolished the office of Sanitary Surveyor. As there were only two surveyors and Mr. Carter was at home in England on holiday he would like to know whether Mr. Carter had been compulsorily retired or
whether he had been given the option of coming back. In that con- nection he might say that Mr. Carter came to the Colony eight years ago and he had done more. for the Department than any other officer. His integrity and uprightness and zeal were an example to the others. Not only that, but he gave up his private time to forming a local branch of the Sanitary Institute, and having worked eight years he went home on leave, expecting to return. The Board were now informed that Mr. Carter had been pensioned off, and as he had reached the age which precluded him from entering government service, that should be brought to the notice of the Govern ment. From information which he possessed he knew that on July 2 th Mr. Carter was not aware that he was not returning to the Colony. If, in the view of the Retrenchment, Committee, one officer could be summarily persioned he wanted to know why the principle could not be applied to the inspectors whom the Government said they did not wish to retain. He would like that this suggestion should go to the Government.
Hon. Mr. HEWETT said he was very glad that the question had been raised by Mr. Hooper. It seemed extraordinary that the Retrenchment Committee, which, after all, endorsed the views expressed by the Public Health Commission, should have recommended the compulsory retirement of the very best man they had, and that men whom the Commission recommended should be dismissed as soon as possible should be retained without any reason at all. If one man could be pensioned off twenty men could be pensioned off.
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The PRESIDENT suggested it was possible that that point had not been brought before the Government. It was probable that they might act on it.
Hon, Mr. HEWETT added that the report had been submitted to them for discussion. The Board was asked to state how many they considered necessary before they could deal with the question of getting rid of inspectors com- 'allow-pulsorily. He asserted that if one man could be summarily pensioned that the others could The PRESIDENTI don't think so.
be summarily pensioned. There were a good Mr LAU CH PAK And does no other many lame ducks who could be removed with work in the offices ?
advantage to the service and the finances,
We have considered the proposals of the Re-stores. trenchment Committee item by item as enum- erated in the list of proposed savings forwarded to us and attach our views below in the case of each item. We are satisfied that savings can be effected as posts fall vacant in the case of